BOSTON RED SOX NOTES:
STATE OF THE SOX: The Red Sox have won 6 of their last 9 games…Are 12-10 in their last 22 games since 7/22. Despite losing 8 of their 10 games from 7/29-8/8, the Sox own the AL’s 3rd-best record since 6/14 (30-22). They’re 23-15 since 6/30, the 7th-best mark in MLB. At 63-57 (.525), Boston has MLB’s 12th-best record.
TO THE LEFT: Boston will face a left-handed starting pitcher today for the 2nd consecutive game vs. the Nationals. The Sox are 21-13 vs. LH starters (.618) and 42-44 vs. RH starters (.484). They are 8-3 in their last 11 games vs. LH starters (4-1 since 8/7). Last night MacKenzie Gore became only the 8th LH starter to pitch 6.0+ IP this season vs. the Sox.
SERIES BUSINESS: With a win today, Boston would climb to 22-15-2 in series play, matching their season total in series wins from last season when they went 22-24-6.
They would also improve to 9-8-2 in road series, 1 shy of their win total from 2022 (10-14-2). With a loss today, Boston will drop to 2-4 in their last 6 series, beginning 7/28 at SF. They are 8-4-0 in their last 12 series, beginning 6/30.
NL FEAST OR FAMINE: The Sox are 8-7 this year vs. the NL East (3-1 vs. ATL, 0-3 vs. MIA, 2-1 vs. NYM, 2-1 at PHI, and 1-1 at WSH). The Sox are 3-1-1 in series play vs. the division.
SOX & NATS: The Red Sox have won 9 of their last 11 games vs. WSH since 7/2/18, including 6 of their last 7. The Sox are 9-2 all time at Nationals Park. The Sox are 4-0 in their last 4 series vs. WSH since the start of 2015. The last time the Red Sox played in Washington was from 10/1-3/21, where a 3-game sweep clinched the Sox a postseason berth.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS: The Red Sox are an MLB-best 307- 218 (.585) all-time in Interleague play…They’re the only team with 300+ Interleague wins (2nd: NYY-298). The Sox are 19-23 vs. NL clubs this season (13-9 road, 6-14 home).
LATE SURGE: Boston has scored 244 runs in innings 6-9, 4th most in the AL behind TEX (266), HOU (261), and TB (254)…They rank 2nd in the AL and 5th in MLB in hits during those innings (448; TEX-450).
RUNNIN’ RED SOX: Overall, the Sox rank 6th in the AL in steals and 7th in stolen base % (80.0, 84-for-105). Tuesday night, Reese McGuire became the 18th player to record at least 1 SB for the Sox this season…That leads the AL and is tied with PIT for the MLB lead.
BACK TO THE GRIND: Tuesday, the Red Sox began a season-long 10-game road trip (WSH-3, NYY-3, HOU-4). Boston is in a stretch of 32 games in 34 days, from 7/28-8/30…Monday was their only scheduled day off in a 27-day span from 8/4-30. Starting Tuesday, the Sox are scheduled to play a game on 16 consecutive days from 8/15-30, their 2ndlongest stretch of the season (19 games, 4/8-26).
IT’S GO TIME: Boston is 6-3 so far in a stretch of 13 games against sub-.500 teams (3-1 vs. KC, 2-1 vs. DET, 1-1 at WSH, 3 at NYY). Prior to this stretch, the Sox went 4-7 in a stretch of 11 games against teams with a winning record (2-0 vs. ATL, 1-2 at SF, 1-2 at SEA, 0-3 vs. TOR).
SLUGGING SOX: The Red Sox rank 2nd in MLB in doubles (259)…They rank 2nd in the AL in AVG (.261) and XBH (408), and 4th in OBP (.327), SLG (.430) and OPS (.756).
In their last 37 games since 6/30, Boston ranks 2nd in the AL in AVG (.266), 3rd in SLG (.453), and is 4th in OPS (.775).
HIGH FIVE: BOS is an MLB-best 50-7 (.877) when scoring 5+ runs…They’ve done so in just 4 of their last 13 games. Since 6/14, they’ve won 23 of their last 24 games when scoring 5+ runs, including each of their last 9 since 7/22.
LOCK IT DOWN: The Red Sox own MLB’s best record when leading after 6 innings (49-3, .942)…In 2022, they ranked 18th in MLB when leading after 6 (63-10, .863). Boston leads MLB in save % (78.3; 36-for-46).
PITCHING IN: The Red Sox have allowed 4 runs or fewer in 6 of their last 9 games (2, 9, 3, 0, 2, 6, 3, 4, 6), posting a 3.83 ERA. In that span, Sox starters are 2-2 with a 4.03 ERA (20 ER/44.2 IP), while relievers are 4-1 with 8 holds, 5 saves, and a 3.57 ERA (14 ER/35.1 IP). The Red Sox 4 strikeouts last night was their fewest
since 7/5 vs. TEX (also 4).
THE CLOSING ACT: Since 7/1, Kenley Jansen is tied for the MLB lead with 12 saves…Overall, he ranks T-4th in the AL and T-6th in MLB with 28 saves. Jansen has converted each of his last 19 save opportunities since 5/20, tied for the longest active streak of successful save chances (TOR’s Jordan Romano). Additionally Jansen has converted each of his last 19 save opportunities on the road, beginning 9/24/22. The last Red Sox pitcher to convert 20 or more consecutive SVO was Craig Kimbrel (23) from 5/10-7/23/2018.
MARTY PARTY: Since 6/9, Chris Martin has allowed only 1 run over his last 25 outings (22.2 IP)…He leads MLB with a 0.40 ERA in that span (min. 20.0 IP). Overall, his 1.34 ERA (6 ER/40.1 IP) is 4th best in MLB (min. 30.0 IP)…His 0.42 home ERA (1 ER/21.1 IP) only trails Josh Hader for the MLB lead (0.40 ERA) (min. 20.0 IP).
ON THE MEND: Tanner Houck is on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester…He started yesterday vs. Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre and retired 12 of his 13 batters faced (4.0 IP, 1 H, 4 SO, 59 pitches). He tossed 3.0 scoreless innings in Game 1 of last Friday’s doubleheader vs. BUF (H, 3 SO, 34 pitches) and also started 8/5 at SYR (1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 3 SO, 46 pitches).
TONIGHT’S STARTER: 41 CHRIS SALE – LHP
W-L ERA G GS IP ER HR BB SO WHIP AVG
2023 5-2 4.52 12 12 63.2 32 9 15 78 1.12 .232
CAREER 119-77 3.08 335 255 1741.2 597 187 402 2142 1.04 .220
Started on Friday vs. DET after missing the Sox’ previous 59 games while on the IL with left shoulder inflammation (6/2-8/10). The Sox are 9-3 in his starts this season (4-0 in last 4). In his last 7 starts, is 4-0 with a 2.43 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, .178 opponent AVG, 48 SO, and only 5 BB (40.2 IP, 11 ER, 26-for-146, 4 HR). Has allowed only 4 HR over his last 9 starts, all solo (5 HR in his first 3 starts). Ranks 12th in Red Sox history with 898 SO, only 1 behind Clay Buchholz (899, 11th).
Owns the Modern Era’s highest SO/9.0 IP rate (11.10) (min. 1,000 IP). Is 10-7 with a 3.18 ERA (67 ER/ 189.1 IP) in 37 career Interleague games (29 starts).
WASHINGTON NATIONALS NOTES:
OPPONENT – BOSTON RED SOX
The Nationals and Red Sox will face off three times in 2023…Mike Rizzo worked seven seasons (1992- 98) as a scout for the Red Sox…Tim Bogar spent four seasons (2009-12) on the Major League coaching staff of the Red Sox: first base coach (2009), third base coach (2010-11), and bench coach (2012)…Nationals third base coach Gary DiSarcina is from Malden, Mass. and attended the University of Mass-Amherst…Michael Chavis was drafted by Boston in the first round in 2014 and played for the Red Sox from 2019-2021…Jeter Downs made his Major League debut with the Red Sox in 2022… Joey Meneses played in Double and Triple-A for the Red Sox in 2021…Jordan Weems was drafted by the Red Sox in the third round of the 2011 draft… Red Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta was drafted in the fourth round of the 2013 Draft by the Nationals.
POWER HOUR
Behind four home runs, the Washington Nationals topped the Boston Red Sox, 6-4, on Wednesday night…All six runs came via longballs from Michael Chavis (solo), Stone Garrett (2 solos) and Keibert Ruiz (3-run).
- The win snapped Washington’s six-game losing streak to Boston…A win today would give the Nationals their first home series win over the Red Sox in team history (2005-pres.).
STATUS CHECK
The Nationals have won four of five, nine of 13, 11 of 17, 16 of 25 and are 26-20 (.565) since June 24.
- Since July 8, Washington is 20-13 (.606), the third-best record in the National League behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers (23-8, .742) and Chicago Cubs (21-12, .636).
- The Nationals have won 13 of their last 16 home games dating to July 8 vs. Texas.
LIKE A ROCK
Stone Garrett clubbed his first career multi-home run game on Aug. 16 vs. Boston…He’s hit safely in five straight games, going .471 (8-for-17) with two doubles, two homers, eight RBI, three walks and four runs scored during the streak.
- The Nationals are 12-1 in his last 13 starts dating to July 17…Garrett is hitting .364/.444/.705 with six doubles, three homers and 12 RBI in those 13 starts.
- Garrett ranks third among National League left fielders in outs above average (1).
BACKSTOP BAT
Keibert Ruiz leads Major League catchers in average (.340), on-base percentage (.398) and slugging percentage (.575) and is second in hits (36) since July 9…He’s recorded seven doubles, six homers, 18 RBI, 11 walks, one stolen base and 16 runs scored in 29 games over this stretch.
- Ruiz is 10-for-25 (.400) with a double, three homers, seven RBI, two walks and seven runs scored over his last six games.
- He ranks sixth in the National League with a .348 average with runners in scoring position this season.
OK, KYLE
Kyle Finnegan has seven saves, five holds and has pitched to a 0.66 ERA (2 ER/27.1 IP) with a .136 opponents’ average (12-for-88, 2B, HR) in his last 25 appearances.
- He’s tossed 13.2 consecutive scoreless innings since July 14, the second-longest streak by a Nationals pitcher this season…It is the longest active streak in the National League (2nd in MLB).
- He’s set a new career-high and is eighth in the NL with 18 saves this season.
- Finnegan surrendered seven earned runs and three home runs in his first three outings…Since the next outing on April 7 at Colorado, he has pitched to a 1.45 ERA (8 ER/49.2 IP) with 51 strikeouts and three home runs allowed in 47 games.
WHAT A RELIEF
The Nationals have the best bullpen ERA in the NL (2nd in MLB) since July 21 at 2.66…Nationals relievers have posted a .211 opponents’ average over this stretch.
- Since Aug. 2, the group has pitched to a 2.17 ERA (12 ER/49.2 IP) with 9.24 strikeouts per 9.0 innings and a .178 opponents’ batting average.
BORN TO RUN
CJ Abrams is tied for third in the National League with 31 stolen bases…He stole 25 consecutive bases without being caught from May 5 to Aug. 10, the longest streak in Nationals history (2005- pres.) according to the Elias Sports Bureau…It was the longest active streak in MLB at the time.
- Since being moved to the leadoff spot on July 7, Abrams is hitting .292 with six doubles, a triple, four homers, 10 RBI, nine walks, four hit by pitch, 20 stolen bases and 23 runs scored.
STARTING PITCHER – #46 PATRICK CORBIN
Left-handed pitcher signed a six-year contract with the Nationals on Dec. 7, 2018…Was the winning pitcher in Game 7 of the 2019 World Series…Is a two-time National League All-Star (2018, 2013)… Has started at least 30 games for five consecutive full seasons (2017-19, 2021-22), joining Gerrit Cole as the only pitchers since 2017 to accomplish the feat.
LAST START
Worked 5.0 innings, allowed one unearend run on one hit, struck out two on August 10 against Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park…He took a no decision in the Nationals’ 6-2 defeat.
vs. BOSTON
Is facing Boston for the third time in his career…Corbin is 0-2 with an 8.22 ERA (7 ER/ 7.2 IP) in two career appearances against the Red Sox.
RECENCY BIAS
Corbin is 3-2 with a 4.15 ERA (22 ER/47.2 IP), 34 strikeouts and 15 walks over his last eight starts…He tossed 7.0 shutout innings on June 28 at Seattle (9 SO, 0 BB) and 7.0 innings of one-run ball on July 9 vs. Texas.
GLOVE WORK
Corbin leads Major League Baseball pitchers with 24 assists and six pickoffs…His six pickoffs are a career-high.
1,500 STRIKEOUTS
With a strikeout of Jonathan Schoop on May 20 vs. Detroit, Corbin recorded his 1,500th career strikeout…He became the fourth Nationals pitcher to record 1,500 strikeouts in a Nationals uniform, joining Stephen Strasburg (2019), Gio González(2017) and Max Scherzer (2015) per the Elias Sports Bureau.
- Corbin ranks 18th among active pitchers with 1,557 strikeouts, behind Carlos Carrasco (1,5694)…He is one of 231 players in baseball history with at least 1,500 strikeouts.
